National Park Service To Hold Public Hearing on Waco Mammoth Site

The National Park Service (NPS) will hold a public hearing on the Waco Mammoth Site at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Mayborn Museum Complex on the Baylor University campus.

In May of 2001, Congressman Chet Edwards introduced House Bill 1925 authorizing the study by the National Park Service of the Waco Mammoth Site in an effort to recognize the site's significance, provide for educational opportunities and promote tourism in the Waco area. In December of 2002, President Bush approved the bill that led to the establishment of Public Law 107-341 whereby Congress directed the NPS, in conjunction with the State of Texas, the City of Waco and Baylor University, to conduct a special resource study of the Waco Mammoth Site to assess the site's significance, suitability and feasibility for possible inclusion in the National Park System.

If the site is determined eligible, potential management options will be considered and evaluated; then the best management options and an analysis of the environmental impacts will be put in the form of a recommendation to Congress of either including the site as a new unit of the National Park System or not.

City and University representatives will present an overview of the site's discovery, research findings, and protection and preservation efforts to date. The NPS team will then introduce the study, explain the study process and inform the public and interested parties about how to participate in the study.

The public hearing will help the team from the NPS determine public interest in the site, so organizers hope to have a large gathering of area citizens present. This is an opportunity for interested people to show their support for the project and to have their voices heard. Please help us spread the word about the hearing.

The Mayborn Museum is located at 1300 S. University Parks Dr. in Waco. The Museum entrance fee will be waived for meeting attendees.

For more information, please contact Sarah Levine, director of marketing at the Mayborn Museum, at (254) 710-2517.